CVE-2007-5967 in GTK Widget
Summary
by MITRE • 05/17/2021
A flaw in Mozilla's embedded certificate code might allow web sites to install root certificates on devices without user approval.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5967 represents a critical flaw in Mozilla's certificate handling mechanism that undermines the fundamental security model of web browsers and operating systems. This issue resides within the embedded certificate code that governs how browsers process and store digital certificates, particularly those that could elevate privileges or establish trust relationships with root certificate authorities. The flaw specifically enables malicious websites to install root certificates without explicit user consent, effectively bypassing the security controls that are designed to prevent unauthorized certificate installation.
This technical vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within Mozilla's certificate processing pipeline, where the system fails to properly verify the authenticity and authorization status of certificate installation requests. The flaw allows for a form of privilege escalation through certificate manipulation, where untrusted web content can potentially install trusted root certificates that would then be accepted by the browser and underlying operating system for all future connections. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because root certificates form the cornerstone of public key infrastructure trust models, and unauthorized installation of such certificates can enable man-in-the-middle attacks, certificate forgery, and complete compromise of secure communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple browser security, as it fundamentally compromises the trust relationships that secure web communications depend upon. When malicious actors can install root certificates without user awareness, they gain the ability to impersonate any website or service, decrypt encrypted communications, and potentially access sensitive data that would normally be protected by SSL/TLS encryption. This vulnerability creates a persistent backdoor that can remain active until the compromised system is manually inspected and cleaned, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where certificate management is critical for security operations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including disabling automatic certificate installation features, implementing strict certificate pinning policies, and conducting comprehensive system audits to detect any unauthorized certificate installations. The flaw aligns with CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access controls, and represents a specific instance of privilege escalation through certificate manipulation. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1195 for phishing with social engineering, T1552 for credentials from password stores, and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage the compromised trust relationships to execute further malicious activities. Security teams should also consider implementing certificate transparency monitoring and regular certificate revocation checking to detect unauthorized certificate installations and maintain system integrity against such persistent threats.